GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Grand Rapids Police have characterized over-serving as an ongoing issue at The B.O.B. over the past two years during a state administrative hearing into the May 2013 death of Kevin O’Brien.

Detective Jim Watson testified on Thursday, Jan. 16 that the Grand Rapids vice unit sent The B.O.B. management five notice letters about possible over-serving of patrons between July and November 2013.

“There's been a track record over the last year or two… over-serving, specifically, has been an issue with The B.O.B,” said Watson.

Details about Kevin O’Brien’s actions the night he died have been filtering out during the administrative law hearing before MLCC Hearing Commissioner Ed Clemente at the state agency’s office in Grand Rapids.

O'Brien was the third person to die in a fall at the B.O.B. since 2009.

David Start, Kent County medical examiner, testified that O’Brien, who fell four stories down an open interior stairwell at The B.O.B. on May 12 about 2:15 a.m., died of a skull fracture.

O’Brien, whom Watson testified had been drinking with friends at The Holiday Bar, Monte’s and The Woods prior to entering The B.O.B, had a .25 blood alcohol level when his blood was drawn at a local hospital after the fall.

Acute ethanol intoxication was listed as a contributing factor in O’Brien’s death.

O’Brien also had traces of cocaine in his system, although “that did not play a contributing factor in his death,” testified Start.

Start said a full, formal autopsy was not conducted because the death was consistent with circumstances described by investigators.

A witness who was behind O’Brien when the man fell said O’Brien hopped onto the stairs and fell backward, head-first, after losing his grip on the railing.

The LCC alleged in its complaint that The B.O.B.:

• “Sold or furnished alcoholic liquor to Kevin O'Brien, who was in an intoxicated or visibly intoxicated condition … .“

• Allowed Kevin Obrien, who was in an intoxicated condition, to consume alcoholic liquor upon the licensed premises … .”

• Allowed Kevin Obrien, who was in an intoxicated condition, to frequent or loiter upon the licensed premise … .”

Clemente has 45 days to make a ruling after the hearing concludes. B.O.B. owner Greg Gilmore, in attendance at the hearing, could be fined or face suspension or revocation of the establishment’s liquor license.